( Plant Index )
Genus: Juniperus
ᚍ
Family: Cupressaceae
Names:
- Juniper
- Ar'ar [Arabic]
- Arar [Arabic]
- Ardıç [Turkish]
- Arkeuthis [Greek]
- Bâch [Vietnamese]
- Borievka [Slovak]
- Boróka [Hungarian]
- Borovica [Slovak]
- Brin [Romanian]
- Een [Dutch]
- Einer [German/Icelandic]
- En [Swedish]
- Enebær [Danish]
- Enebro [Spanish]
- Enebrø [Norwegian]
- Enuíbru [Asturian]
- Genévrier [French]
- Ginepro [Italian]
- Jalovcový [Slovak]
- Jalovec [Czech]
- Kadagys [Lithuanian]
- Kadaka [Estonian]
- Kataja [Finnish]
- Katák [Hungarian]
- Katran [Hindi]
- Kazushi [Japanese]
- Kota [Marathi]
- Kranawit [German]
- Mozhzhevel'nik [Russian]
- Można [Polish]
- Nibai [Japanese]
- Pathuom [Thai]
- Pokok Juniper [Malay]
- Reckholder [German]
- Sabina [Spanish]
- Schalnihilbuz [Lingua Ignota]
- Shanber [Persian]
- Shimpaku [Japanese]
- Shokohava [Persian]
- Thuya [French]
- Wacholder [German]
- Zeruwei [Hebrew]
- Zimbro [Portuguese]
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| Juniperus phoenicea, Own Work, Eckhard Pecher. |
Distribution: Northern Hemisphere; the Arctic; Asia; Tropical Africa.
Physical Description
A genus of coniferous trees and shrubs. It can grow at very high altitudes, with the juniper forest in southeastern Tibet and the northern Himalayas forming one of the highest tree lines on Earth at an altitude of 4,900m (16,100ft).
The wood is flexible and has a high compression strength-to-weight ratio, making it desirable for hunting bows by some.
Symbolism
Victorian Flower Language
According to Greenaway, the juniper is an emblem of succor and protection. This is likely directly informed by Elijah's story.
The biblical prophet Elijah slept under a juniper tree during his flight from Jezebel and was provided sustenance by an angel of the Lord. Similarly, in a non-canonical account from the 6th century, Mary and Joseph hid with the infant Jesus behind a juniper, evading the soldiers of Herod. Supposedly, the weak are protected in the juniper's shade just as the hare hides from the hound. In that scenario, the juniper’s fragrance is believed to mask any trail and prevent hounds from tracking by scent.
It was burned or its sap smeared on dwellings to drive away evil spirits, much as smudging by sage.
Furies
To the Greeks, it was the tree of the Erinyes, the Furies.
Justice/Rebirth?
In an old German tradition, they tell the story of a boy who went to fetch himself an apple before being killed by his stepmother. She boiled him in a soup and buried his bones under a juniper. The juniper caught fire, and a bird leaped from its branches. The bird spread the story of the murder far and wide. The bird gave the sister of the murdered boy gifts and killed the stepmother by making a millstone fall upon her head before returning to the burning juniper and emerging from the flame as the human boy.
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| Illustration of Elijah nourished by an angel under the juniper tree, Dore Bible, 1866. |
Culture
Ogham
In the Celtic tree alphabet, the juniper is represented along with the broom (the reed) by the ngéatal (NYEH-dl) rune ( ᚍ ; three diagonal slashes; [ng] sound). This represents the [ng] sound and can mean “killing,” being cognate with the word gonid (“slays”). Modern Neopagans also tie the juniper with the goose and light yellow-green color in their script casting.
Bows
Native Americans of the Great Basin used bows to make bows. Staves were typically backed with sinew to provide tension strength.
Cladding
Juniper branches were used in traditional cladding in Norway to shield against rain while permitting draft.
Fencing
Juniper wood is irregular, dense, and rot-resistant, making it ideal for fence posts.
Carpentry
Often sold under the market name “cedar,” and frequently the “red cedar” used in many drawers and closets. If you read “redcedar” instead of “red cedar” or “red-cedar,” it’s probably an indication that the wood is actually juniper rather than real cedar.
Offering
Locals of the Lahual Valley in Tibet present juniper leaves to their deities, supposedly collecting copious amounts of wood and leaves for religious purposes.
Preservation
Juniper oil was used in antiquity to preserve the integrity of papyrus.
Magic
Fumigation and Saining
The Greeks burned juniper berries in their funerary rites, using the smoke to ward off demons. They also burned the roots in an offering to Hades.
It is also used in the traditional saining (blessing/consecrating/protecting) rites of Scottish Gaelic folklore and modern Gaelic Neopaganism, such as the New Year rites of Hogmanay. In conjunction with prayers and other ritual acts, juniper smoke is used to clean a household and bless its inhabitants during these rites.
Thief-Catching
According to Skinner, there is a spell by which one can compel a thief to return your property using a juniper bush, a stone, and the brain-pan of a murderer. Bend the juniper to the ground, weigh it down with the stone and brain pan, and say:
“Juniper, I bend and squeeze you ‘till the thief [suspect name here] returns what he has taken, to its place.”
Accordingly, the thief will feel compelled to restore the stolen property to its owner, after which it will be considered wise to release the tree from its condition to fulfill the agreement.
Witch-Warding
An Italian tradition holds that you can halt witches at the threshold with a juniper bough, where they will be compelled to count every needle and scale until they give up. This is very similar to a ward against vampires, where one casts seeds at the threshold, and the vampire must count them until the sun rises.
Calm Sheep Stave
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| Sheep stave, as shown in Lecouteux's Dictionary of Ancient Magic Words and Spells: From Abraxas to Zoar. |
To ensure the docility of your sheep, find a branch of juniper or willow facing the east at sunrise, carve this stave upon it, and compel your animals to walk over it in summer and beneath it in the winter.
Medical
We are not a medical website; do not take health advice from us.
According to Apelian and Davis, Juniper berries and needles can be imbibed in food or infusion. While berries may be preferable, they are seasonal, and the needles can be harvested year-round.
Berries should be picked just as they ripen when they appear dark blue and have the highest concentration of desired oils. While it is preferred to use fresh berries medicinally due to the oil’s volatility, dried juniper berries are acceptable for medical use so long as they were picked when they were ripe.
Juniper is consumed in infusion or taken orally by eating the crushed, dried berries. It may also be applied as an essential oil, though this is best done through a second medium, such as a carrier oil or lard.
Juniper is attributed the following qualities:
- Analgesic
- Antibacterial
- Antifungal
- Anti-aging
- Diabetes treatment
- Digestive aid
- Diuretic
- Epilepsy treatment
- Respiratory aid
Antibacterial/Antifungal
Juniper berries are an effective antibacterial, treating:
- E. Coli
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Pneumonia
- Gonorrhea
- Some antibiotic-resistant bacteria
- Fungal infections (both internal and external)
This antibacterial/fungal action makes it an effective topical treatment for wounds and skin infections.
GI Issues
The bitter, astringent qualities of juniper berries are credited with improving salivary and enzyme action, as well as improved acid production, which helps prevent:
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Flatulence
- Gas
Diuretic
Juniper berries are a diuretic which relieves fluid buildup and bloating. This treats or relieves the following:
- Inflammation
- Excess sodium
- UTI
- Injury-based water retention
- Edema (dropsy; fluid-retention/swelling)
- Gout
Anti-Aging
The antioxidants in juniper berries slow age-based damage to cells, and the diuretic action reduces damage caused by the buildup of uric acid or fluid, generally keeping skin and other tissues healthy. This helps the body pre-empt:
- Arthritis
- Development of fine lines and wrinkles
- Cancer
- Heart disease
Respiratory Inhalant
Juniper needles can clear respiratory congestion through an inhaled steam infusion. The people of the Lahual Valley in Tibet use the same technique to treat asthma, suggesting that the steam infusion is a decongestant and an anti-inflammatory.
Diabetes Treatment
McCabe et al. claim that the juniper is a diabetes treatment in Navajo folk medicine. Apelian and Davis warn against diabetics using juniper. Presupposing there is accuracy in both these sources, it would seem that juniper could be a diabetes treatment, but it will interfere with other diabetes treatments rather than complement them.
Painkiller
The people of the Lahual Valley, Tibet, employ juniper as an analgesic.
Epilepsy
The people of the Lahual Valley, Tibet, employ juniper to treat epilepsy.
Poison
As with many edible plants, overconsumption can lead to unpleasant toxic effects. Overconsumption of juniper is known to cause irritation of the kidneys. Its diuretic properties are also known to cause problems for those with bleeding disorders and are dangerous to consume after surgery.
It is ill-advised for pregnant or nursing women to consume juniper, which we are left to speculate is for the same reasons. Pregnant women are already under heavy biological stresses across their whole system, which may make them more sensitive to toxic effects, not to mention susceptibility to bleeding during the birthing process. The fetus and nursing infant are also liable to absorb the essential oils through the placental barrier and breastmilk, respectively, and their small bodies will be much more sensitive to these toxic effects than adults.
As noted earlier, it can interfere with diabetes medication.
Juniper pollen is highly allergenic and known to cause both serious respiratory problems and contact dermatitis.
Food
Juniper berries are edible and nutritious and are known to be high in calcium. Their volatiles are bitter and astringent, so they are commonly dried and stored to improve their palatability. Crushing the berries, fresh or dry, releases their distinct flavor, which is used to spice many dishes. Juniper sauce is a popular choice for many game dishes, both poultry and venison. The berries are also the primary flavorant of gin.
The twigs and needles can also be boiled into an herbal tea.
Compiler Notes
- What if someone fails to release the juniper in the thief-catching spell? What consequences follow? Will the juniper seek revenge?
- The German story of the murdered boy introduces two ideas: first, that a burning juniper indicates a crime, possibly up to the manifestation of a revenant spirit; second, that juniper fire indicates regeneration. The first can easily be tied to the Greek association with the Furies, making Juniper a wood of vengeful and righteous retribution.
- A good wand wood for righteous offensive magic. In Dungeons & Dragons, one might find such a device in the hands of a Good-aligned cleric. The wood provides protection and succour for the innocent or otherwise blessed. As the wood of the Erinyes, it is emblematic of divine judgment, just as it is in the German folktale. Thus, it is a wood that protects the innocent and brings righteous wrath down upon the wicked.
- The Ogham symbolism further compounds this wrathful dimension: "killing/slaying.”
- Juniper might also be a good wood for a magical crozier for the same reason, with the added layer of protection of the flock identified in the Icelandic protection staves.
- Juniper wood is suitable for consecration. It is rot-resistant, making it suitable for staking out or otherwise marking the boundaries or corners of sacred space. Its fumigant smoke alters the character of space within the markers.
- The numerical ward against the action of witches suggests that multitudes are a ward in and of themselves. One might use “counter-magic” (pun definitely intended) in many forms. If this holds, one might dispel the malevolent magical action of a witch or sorcerer with a handful of caraway or sesame seeds.
- The goose connection employed by modern neopagans would tie the juniper to Mercury (the deity, planet, and metallic element). This is worth expanding on, especially regarding the flame.
- From the previous, a juniper torch may well be an emblem of divine inspiration, delivering Apollo’s insight (abstract) through the mercurial messenger.
- This would also make the juniper an excellent tree to sleep under for divine insight.
- Presupposing there is something to juniper as an epilepsy treatment that would compound its role as an emblem of protection and succor. One may hide from the storm under a juniper out in the world, but the juniper, too, can shield the refugee from the neurological storm of epilepsy.
Image Refs
[Img 05 - Dictionary of Ancient Magic Words and Spells: From Abraxas to Zoar. ]
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Species: Juniperus chinensis
Names:
- Chinese Juniper
- Ai Byakushin [Japanese]
- Bai Mu [Mandarin]
- Byakushin [Japanese]
- Chinese Juniper
- Chinesischer Wacholder [German]
- Enebro De China [Spanish]
- Genévrier De Chine [French]
- Ginepro Cinese [Italian]
- Hiba [Japanese]
- Himalayan Pencil Cedar
- Ibuki [Japanese]
- Itosugi [Japanese]
- Jenevier China [Indonesian]
- Jinyinbai [Mandarin]
- Juniper Cina [Indonesian]
- Kaizuka [Japanese]
- Mittsu-Ha-Shimpaku [Japanese]
- Shimpaku [Japanese]
- Toa Byakushin [Japanese]
- Xiang Bo [Mandarin]
- Yuan Zi Bai [Chinese]
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| Juniperus chinensis, own work, Chhe. |
Distribution:
- Asia, East: China (China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Inner Mongolia), Japan, Korea
- Asia, Northern: Russia (Khabarovsk, Kuril Is., Primorye, Sakhalin)
- Asia, Southeast: Myanmar
Physical Description
Chinese juniper is a coniferous evergreen in the form of a shrub or tree, ranging from 1-20m (3-65ft) tall.
This plant is typically dioecious (sexually distinct) but has been observed in hermaphroditic form occasionally. The female flowers produce blue-black, berry-like cones 7-12mm in diameter, with a whitish, waxy bloom, each cone containing 2-4 seeds, which mature over ~18 months. The male cones are 2-4mm long and shed pollen in early spring.
Culture
Bonsai
In Japanese bonsai art, this species is cultivated and called “Shimpaku.”
Compiler Notes
- Retained for name and distribution.
Image Refs
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Species: Juniperus excelsa
Names:
- Greek Juniper
- Algum [Hebrew]
- Almug [Hebrew]
- Andız [Turkish]
- Arar [Arabic]
- Ardıç [Turkish]
- Boz Ardıç [Turkish]
- Grecian Juniper
- Greek Juniper
- Junipero Griego [Spanish]
- Himalayan Pencil Cedar
- Kan Ardıç [Turkish]
- Mediterranean Juniper
- Pencil Juniper
- Pencil Cedar
- Persian Juniper
- Prickly Juniper
- Tall Juniper
- Tütsü Ardıcı [Turkish]
- Yüksek Ardıç [Turkish]
- Zeravšan [Persian]
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| Juniperus excelsa, Own work, Zeynel Cebeci. |
Distribution:
- Asia, Northern: Russia (Krym, North Caucasus)
- Asia, West: Cyprus, Turkey
- Europe, Eastern: Ukraine
- Europe, Southern: Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia, Serbia
Physical Description
Greek juniper is an evergreen shrub or tree that grows between 6-20m (20-66ft) tall, sometimes larger, with a trunk up to 2m (6.5ft) in diameter.
This plant is typically dioecious (sexually distinct) but has been observed in hermaphroditic form occasionally. The female flowers produce blue-black, berry-like cones 6-11mm in diameter, with a whitish, waxy bloom, each cone containing 3-6 seeds, which mature over ~18 months. The male cones are 3-4mm long and shed pollen in early spring.
Greek juniper often occurs together with stinking juniper (Juniperus foetidissima), distinguished by slenderer shoots of its needles and their grey-green color.
Symbolism
Candidate for the Algum wood used for the pillars of Solomon’s temple, with cedar and pine. Also used for making the musical instruments in the temple.
Compiler Notes
- Often the juniper referred to in ancient texts (and therefore in the Genus entry above).
- Perhaps it could be used with cedar and pine to bind spirits, in reference to the foundational narrative of Solomonic sorcery. This is both in reference to the use of pillars and musical instruments.
- Algum and its corrruptions may be effective voces magicae for abjuration.
Image Refs
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Species: Juniperus foetidissima
Names:
- Stinking Juniper
- Agriomersini [Greek]
- Ahlat Ardici [Turkish]
- Andiz [Turkish]
- Ar'ar [Arabic]
- Bozhur [Bulgarian]
- Bromokédros [Greek]
- Foetid Juniper
- Genevrier Fetide [French]
- Giant Juniper
- Ginepro Fetido [Italian]
- Ginevro Fetido [Italian]
- Junipero Hediondo [Spanish]
- Kokar Ardıç [Turkish]
- Kokulu Ardic [Turkish]
- Korav Smric [Macedonian]
- Korava Kleka [Serbian]
- Mozhzhevel'nik Vonyuchiy [Russian]
- Pachnouci Jalovec [Czech]
- Smrdljiva Borovica [Croatian]
- Smrdljiva Kleka [Bosnian]
- Stinkender Wacholder [German]
- Tall Juniper
- Velikoplodni Brin [Slovenian]
Distribution:
- Asia, Northern: Russia (Krym, North Caucasus)
- Asia, West: Cyprus, Iran, Turkey, Turkmenistan
- Europe, Southern: Albania, Greece, North Macedonia, Serbia
Physical Description
Stinking juniper is a medium-sized tree, 6-25 m (20-82 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 2.5m (8ft). The oldest tree of this species is estimated to be 1,700 years old, 25m (82ft) tall, with a 3.38m (11ft) diameter trunk.
The needles of this juniper release a fetid smell when crushed, hence the name.
The female flowers produce blue-black, berry-like cones 7-13mm in diameter, with a whitish, waxy bloom, each cone containing 1-2 (rarely 3) seeds, which mature over ~18 months. The male cones are 2-3.5mm long and shed pollen in early spring.
Stinking juniper often occurs with Greek juniper and may be distinguished by its needles' thicker and greener shoots (in addition to the more pungent smell of its crushed needles).
Compiler Notes
- Pungent smells are often used to drive away evil spirits. Crushed needles of the stinking juniper may be as effective against various spirits as garlic is supposed to be for vampires.
Image Refs
[Img 08 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Juniperus_foetidissima,_Alada%C4%9Flar_Mountains_1.jpg ]
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Species: Juniperus indica
Names:
- Black Juniper
- Banhkujin [Pashto]
- Bhui Dhup [Nepali]
- Chokaping [Sherpa]
- Dhupi [Nepali]
- Dhupkanda [Nepali]
- Du Gui [Chinese]
- Genévrier De L'Inde [French]
- Himalayan Juniper
- Huanzang Gui [Chinese]
- Indischer Wacholder [German]
- Junipero De La India [Spanish]
- Karagach [Kyrgyz]
- Kila [Tibetan]
- Pama [Tibetan]
- Raga [Ladakhi]
- Shukpa [Tibetan]
- Shur [Balti]
- Sukpa [Tibetan]
- Thelu [Kumaoni/Nepali]
- West Himalayan Juniper
- Yapkaning [Sherpa]
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| Juniperus indica |
Distribution:
- Asia, East: China (China South-Central)
- Asia, South: Nepal, Pakistan
- Asia, Central: Tibet
Physical Description
Black Juniper is an evergreen shrub, growing up to 2m (6.5ft) tall with mostly horizontal branching. It is the highest-growing woody plant on earth, found at altitudes between 2,600-5,200m (8,500-17,100ft), especially in the Himalayas.
The plant is sexually dioecious, and its mature seeds are glossy black and berry-like, growing 6-10mm long. Its seeds are consumed by birds, who digest the fleshy pulp and excrete the core seeds.
Compiler Notes
- Retained for name and distribution.
Image Refs
[Img 09 - https://alchetron.com/Juniperus-indica ]
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Species: Juniperus phoenicea
Names:
- Phoenician Juniper
- Ar'ar [Arabic]
- Arbre De l'Encens [French]
- Cedro De Lycia [Spanish]
- Enebro Fenicio [Spanish]
- Fenician Juniper
- Genévrier De Phénicie [French]
- Ginepro Fenicio [Italian]
- Junipero Fenicio [Spanish]
- Juniperus Rouge [French]
- Lycian Juniper
- Phoenician Juniper
- Phönizischer Wacholder [German]
- Sabina Fenicia [Spanish]
- Sabina Mora [Spanish]
- Sabina Negral [Spanish]
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| Juniperus phoenicia, Jean Tosti. |
Distribution:
- Europe, Southern: Italy (including Sardinia), Spain (including Balearic Islands)
- Europe, Western: France
Physical Description
Phoenician juniper is a large evergreen shrub or small tree, reaching a height of 5-8m (16-26ft) and a trunk width of 1-2m (3.2-6.5ft). It has a rounded or irregular crown. The dark grey-brown bark can be peeled off in strips. Its needles are green to blue-green in color.
Phoenician junipers are typically hermaphroditic, though a minority of plants are entirely dioecious. The female cones are berry-like, 6-14mm in diameter and orange-brown, occasionallly with a waxy, pinkish bloom, and contain 3-8 seeds that mature in ~18 months (mainly dispersed by birds). The male cones are 2-4mm long and shed pollen in early spring.
Culture
Used for medicine, cosmetics, food, carpentry, and charcoal.
Compiler Notes
- Retained for names and distribution.
Image Refs
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Species: Juniperus procera
Names:
- African Juniper
- African Pencil Cedar
- East African Cedar
- East African Juniper
- Ethiopian Juniper
- Habash [Arabic]
- Kenya Cedar
- Masessen [Amharic]
- Mutarakwa [Kikuyu]
- Muziriti [Luganda]
- Ol-Tarakwa [Maasai]
- Pencil Cedar
- Tarakwa [Swahili]
- Ted [Tigrinya]
- Tedh [Tigrinya]
- Yahasha [Arabic]
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| Juniperus procera, Robert L. Anderson, USDA Forest Service. |
Distribution: Only juniper found south of the equator.
- Africa, Eastern: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe
- Africa, Northern: Sudan
- Asia, West: Saudi Arabia, Yemen
Physical Description
African juniper is a medium-sized evergreen tree, 20-25m (66-82ft) tall, with a trunk up to 1.5-2m (5-6.5ft) in diameter. Its crown ranges from broadly conical to rounded to irregular.
This plant is typically dioecious (sexually distinct) but has been observed in hermaphroditic form occasionally. The female flowers produce blue-black, berry-like cones 4-8mm in diameter, with a whitish, waxy bloom, each cone containing 2-5 seeds, which mature over 12-18 months. The male cones are 3-5mm long and shed pollen in early spring.
Culture
Used as a timber tree in building houses, poles, and furniture. The bark is used to make beehives.
Compiler Notes
- If the protection and succor symbolism holds, does the use of the bark in agricultural beehives contribute to the perception, or is it informed by the perception?
- More can be done with juniper bees or honey from bees housed in juniper hives.
Image Refs
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Species: Juniperus pseudosabina
Names:
- Dwarf Black Juniper
- False Savin
- False Savin Juniper
- Sabina Falsa [Spanish]
- Sayan Juniper
- Tibetan Savin
- Turkestan Juniper
- Xinjiang Juniper
- Yi Gui [Chinese]
Distribution:
- Asia, Central: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
- Asia, East: China (Xinjiang)
- Asia, Northern: Russia (Altay)
- Asia, South: Afghanistan, Pakistan
Biome: Mountains
Physical Description
False savin is an evergreen shrub or small tree that grows 1-10m (3.5-33ft) tall. Grows at altitudes of 2,000-4,100m (6,600-13,500ft).
False savin is typically dioecious (sexually distinct) but has been observed in hermaphroditic form occasionally. The female flowers produce blue-black, berry-like cones 8-14mm in diameter, with a whitish, waxy bloom, each cone containing a single seed, which matures after ~18 months. The male cones are 2-3mm long and shed pollen in late winter.
Compiler Notes
- The “falsity” of this juniper could be conflated with its dwarfish habit by identifying it with dwarves-as-sprites. It could then be interpreted as being related to the deception of fae or as having its savin-like properties cosmically set aside for dwarven benefit.
- From the above, interference with the false savin for medicine or magic could be a transgression against the fae, inviting retribution.
Image Refs
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Species: Juniperus recurva
Names:
- Drooping Juniper
- Bhutan Drooping Juniper
- Dangme Shing [Dzongkha]
- Drooping Juniper
- Druepal [Nepali]
- Dukpa [Nepali]
- Himalayan Drooping Juniper
- Himalayan Weeping Juniper
- Kashmir Juniper
- Nepalese Drooping Juniper
- Shukpa [Tibetan]
- Tam Huong [Vietnamese]
- Weeping Blue Juniper
- Weeping Juniper
- Xue Tong [Chinese]
Distribution:
- Asia, East: China (China South-Central)
- Asia, South: India (Assam), Myanmar, Nepal
- Asia, Central: Tibet
Physical Description
Drooping juniper is a large evergreen shrub or tree, reaching 6-20m (20-66ft) tall, with a trunk up to 2m (6.5ft) in diameter. Its crown is broadly conical to rounded to irregular. Grows at altitudes of 3,000-4,000m (9,800-13,100 ft).
This juniper is mostly hermaphroditic (monoecious). Its female cones are glossy blue-black, 5-10mm long and 4-7mm wide, and contain one seed that matures in ~18 months. The male cones are 3-4mm long and release pollen in early spring.
Compiler Notes
- This tree’s drooping habit suggests weeping, which might be employed as a malefic. As some have used junipers in bow-making, drooping junipers would be suitable for producing a magic bow that employed spirit-dart style defixions, afflicting them to the point of weeping.
Image Refs
[Img 13 - https://www.treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/juniperus/juniperus-recurva/?preview=10270 ]
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Species: Juniperus sabina
Names:
- Savin
- Almindelig Sevenbom [Danish]
- Ardıç [Turkish]
- Bacha [Ladakhi]
- Booz [Persian]
- Borsika [Hungarian]
- Cedro De Sabina [Spanish]
- Chipreto [Romansh]
- Common Savin
- Devil’s Tree
- Enebro Rastrero [Spanish]
- Enebro Sabina [Spanish]
- Gemeiner Sadebaum [German]
- Genévrier Sabine [French]
- Ginepro Sabina [Italian]
- Herb Savin
- Herba Sabina [Latin]
- Jałowiec Sabiński [Polish]
- Juniperus Femelle [French]
- Kara Ardıç [Turkish]
- Klättertall [Swedish]
- Kyparisoúla [Greek]
- Magician’s Cypress
- Mediterranean Juniper
- Miera [Spanish]
- Morzševel'nik Kazackij [Russian]
- Ožekšnis [Lithuanian]
- Sabin [Turkish]
- Sabina [Spanish]
- Sabina Rastrera [Spanish]
- Sabina Ratlla [Catalan]
- Sabine [French]
- Sadebaum [German]
- Sävenbom [Swedish]
- Savin Juniper
- Savina [Catalan/Portuguese]
- Savinka [Russian]
- Scinzibuz [Lingua Ignota]
- Sebenbaum [German]
- Sevenbom [Dutch]
- Sevenboom [Dutch]
- Smrdljiva Borovica [Serbian]
- Venušin Vlas [Czech]
- Zebenbaum [German]
Distribution: Mountains of central and southern Europe and western and central Asia; Spain to Siberia.
- Africa, Northern: Algeria
- Asia, Central: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan
- Asia, East: China (China North-Central, Inner Mongolia), Korea
- Asia, Northern: Russia (Altay, Amur, Chita, East European Russia, Khabarovsk, Krym, North Caucasus, Primorye, South European Russia, Tuva, West Siberia, Yakutskiya)
- Asia, West: Turkey
- Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Switzerland
- Europe, Eastern: Bulgaria, Ukraine
- Europe, Southern: Albania, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia, Serbia, Spain
Physical Description
Savin is an evergreen shrub that grows from 1-4m (3.5-13ft) tall. It prefers altitudes from 1,000-3,300m (3,300-10,800 ft). The shrub is highly variable in shape.
This is a largely dioecious plant with occasional hermaphrodites. The female cones are blue-black and berry-like, with a whitish, waxy bloom. They are 9mm in diameter and produce 1-3 seeds (though 4 and even 5 aren’t unheard of), which mature after ~18 months. The male cones are 2-4mm long and shed pollen in early spring.
Culture
Popular ornamental shrub in gardens and parks.
Magic
According to Skinner, savin is known as “magician’s cypress” and “devil’s tree” because it is used in the rituals of wizards and sorcerers.
Medical
We are not a medical website; do not take health advice from us.
Used in Rome to help induce birth in cattle and later as an abortifacient in 19th-century America.
Poison
Contains abortifacient terpenes, do not give to pregnant women.
Compiler Notes
- Its abortifacient qualities make it a good wand wood candidate for inquisitors. They can use it to improve the efficacy of counterspells (aborting the spell) or to ease the execution of a ritual (inducing the birth of the mature spell).
- Inquisitors could also employ the abortifacient properties to compel the truth out of those they interrogate, miscarrying their schemes.
- This same quality makes it a poor wand wood for schemers, as it may prematurely quicken complex spellwork.
- Good wand wood for evil warlocks based on tradition and name, though the abortifacient qualities would suggest otherwise. Running with that dangerous medicinal interpretation might prematurely quicken complex spellwork. In the hands of evil, such a wand might be relegated exclusively to defixions rather than any constructive malevolence.
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Species: Juniperus seravschanica
Names:
- Pashtun Juniper
- Central Asian Juniper
- Saur Arčasy [Kazakh]
- Seravshan Ardıcı [Turkish]
- Turkestan Juniper
- Zeravšan [Persian]
- Zeravshan Juniper
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| Juniperus seravchanica, Own work, Hayatullah Khan Durrani. |
Distribution:
- Asia, Central: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
- Asia, South: Afghanistan, Pakistan
- Asia, West: Iran, Oman
Physical Description
Typically regarded as a subspecies of Juniperus excelsa. Typically occurs at elevations of 1,500-2,000m (4,900-6,600ft). In the Hajar Mountains of Oman, they form open woodlands at elevations of 2,100-3,000m (6,900-9,800ft), occasionally co-dominant with wild European olive (Olea europaea).
Compiler Notes
- Retained for name and distribution.
- Seems that its association with the olive might be most significant here if one were to write a story in an analogous environment, pairing the benefic qualities of the juniper as a shelter with the sustaining, peaceful gifts of the olive and its oil seems the way to go.
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Species: Juniperus squamata
Names:
- Flaky Juniper
- Bismillah [Nepali]
- Flaum-Wacholder [German]
- Himalayan Dwarf Juniper
- Himalayan Flaky Juniper
- Hong Bian Yuan [Chinese]
- Huashan Juniper
- Maye [Nepali]
- Paduk [Nepali]
- Pathar Dhupi [Nepali]
- Prickly Juniper
- Scaly Juniper
- Shukpa [Tibetan]
- Single Seed Juniper
- Squamate Juniper
- Tang Bai [Chinese]
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| Juniperus squamata, Own work, MPF. |
Distribution:
- Asia, East: China (China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast)
- Asia, South: Afghanistan, India (Assam), Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan
- Asia, Central: Tibet
Physical Description
An evergreen shrub (occasionally a tree) growing 2-10m (6.5-33ft) tall, occasionally even reaching 15m (49ft). Its bark is flaky brown, and the tree has a prostrate to irregular crown. It is named for the scale-like quality of its leaves.
This is a largely dioecious plant but occasionally produces hermaphrodites. Female cones are glossy black and berry-like, 4-9mm long and 4-6mm in diameter. They contain one seed that matures after ~18 months. The male cones are 3-4mm long and shed pollen in early spring.
Compiler Notes
- Retained for name and distribution.
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Species: Juniperus thurifera
Names:
- Spanish Juniper
- Arbre D'encens [French]
- Cedro De Espana [Spanish]
- Cedro De Incienso [Spanish]
- Cedro Hispanico [Spanish]
- Enebro De Incienso [Spanish]
- Enebro De La Miera [Spanish]
- French Juniper
- Genevrier A Encens [French]
- Genévrier à l'Encens [French]
- Genevrier Thurifere [French]
- Ginepro Turifero [Italian]
- Incense Juniper
- Junipero Del Incienso [Spanish]
- Pinheiro-Incenso [Portuguese]
- Sabina Albar [Spanish]
- Sabina Albarra [Spanish]
- Sabina Blanca [Spanish]
- Sabina Espanola [Spanish]
- Sabina Pudia [Spanish]
- Sabina Roma [Spanish]
- Sabina Romera [Spanish]
- Sabina Romana [Spanish]
- Sabina Thurifera [Spanish]
- Sabine A Encens [French]
- Spanish Incense Juniper
- Spanish Juniper
- Thuriferous Juniper
- Trabina [Spanish]
- Weihrauch-Wacholder [German]
- Zimbro-De-Incenso [Portuguese]
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| Juniperus thurifera, Own work, Luis Fernández García. |
Distribution:
- Africa, Northern: Algeria, Morocco
- Europe, Southern: Spain
- Europe, Western: France (including Corsica)
Physical Description
Spanish juniper is a large evergreen shrub or tree that grows 6-20m (20-66ft) tall, with a trunk up to 2m (6.5ft) in diameter. Its crown is broadly conical to rounded to irregular. Its leaves are highly aromatic with a spicy-resinous scent.
Spanish juniper is a completely dioecious plant, with separate male and female plants. The female flowers produce blue-black, berry-like cones 7-12mm in diameter, with a whitish, waxy bloom, each cone containing 1-4 seeds, which mature after ~18 months. The male cones are 3-4mm long and shed pollen in early spring.
Compiler Notes
- The notable aromatic qualities of this tree’s foliage suggest a greater potency in protective attributes relative to other junipers.
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Species: Juniperus tibetica
Names:
- Tibetan Juniper
- Himalayan Temple Juniper
- Shukpa [Tibetan]
- Temple Juniper
- Tibet Juniper
- Tibetan Juniper
- Xizang Bai [Chinese]
- Zang Bai [Chinese]
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| Juniperus tibetica, John Grimshaw. |
Distribution:
- Asia, East: China (China North-Central, China South-Central)
- Asia, Central: Tibet
Physical Description
Tibetan juniper is an evergreen shrub or small to medium-sized tree, growing from 5-15m (16-49ft) tall. Occasionally, these trees can reach up to 30m (98ft) tall, with a trunk up to 2m (6.5ft) in diameter. Candidate for the highest altitude treeline in the world (2,600-4,800 m/8,500-15,700 ft).
This plant is typically hermaphroditic, only occasionally dioecious. The female cones are blue-black and berry-like, 9-16mm long and 7-13mm in diameter, containing a single seed that matures after ~18 months. The male cones are 1.5-2mm long and shed their pollen in spring.
Culture
Harvested for lumber and burned for incense by locals. Also used as fodder for livestock.
Compiler Notes
- Retained for name and distribution.
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See Also:
Prestigious Plants
- Plants
- Flowers
- Trees
- Ferns
- Moss and Lichen [Pending]
- Fungi [Pending]
- Cladistic Index
- Herbal Medicine [Pending]
- Resin, Incense, Balsam, and Lacquer [Pending]
Other Gymnosperms
- Cedar
- Cypress
- Ephedra
- Fir
- Ginkgo
- Larch
- Pine
- Spruce
- Yew
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Sources:
-Apelian, Nicole, and Claude Davis. The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies : The Healing Power of Plant Medicine. 2021.
-Drury, N. (2004). The dictionary of the esoteric: 3000 entries on the mystical and occult traditions. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers.
-Drury, N. (2005). The Watkins Dictionary of Magic: 3000 entries on the magical traditions. Watkins.
-Greenaway, Kate. Language of Flowers. George Routleage and Sons.
-Higley, Sarah L. (2007). Hildegard of Bingen’s Unknown Language: An Edition, Translation, and Discussion. Palgrave Macmillan.
-Lecouteux, C. (2015). Dictionary of Ancient Magic Words and Spells: From Abraxas to Zoar. Simon and Schuster.
-Skinner, Charles M. “Myths and Legends of Flowers, Trees, Fruits, and Plants : In All Ages and in All Climes : Skinner, Charles M. (Charles Montgomery), 1852-1907 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming.” Internet Archive, Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott Co., 1 Jan. 1970, https://archive.org/details/mythslegendsoffl00skin.
-Tresidder, J. (2008). The Watkins Dictionary of Symbols. Watkins.
( https://www.secretflowerlanguage.com/ ) — Defunct
Name assistance provided by Claude 3.5 Sonnet.
